November 9, 2026 northern lights forecast: Kp 4.7 (G1) expected — in range of Vancouver, Aberdeen. See the storm details

Northern Lights Tonight in Quebec

Updated

Quebec stretches from the St. Lawrence lowlands, where you need a real storm, to Nunavik, where the aurora is a regular sight. Thresholds run from Kp 1.7 to 4.9. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): best chance at Quebec City, low.

Locations covered
5
Magnetic latitude
53.5–65.0°
Kp needed
1.7–4.9

Best chance in Quebec tonight

Low

Quebec City: low, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 4.7 needed, clouds 79%.

Kp requirements by location

1Kuujjuaq

On the horizonKp 1.7
Clearly visibleKp 2.7
Bright, overheadKp 3.7

Kp now 2.0: horizon range

2Chibougamau

On the horizonKp 3.8
Clearly visibleKp 4.8
Bright, overheadKp 5.8

Kp now 2.0: 1.8 short of the horizon

3Saguenay

On the horizonKp 4.3
Clearly visibleKp 5.3
Bright, overheadKp 6.3

Kp now 2.0: 2.3 short of the horizon

4Quebec City

On the horizonKp 4.7
Clearly visibleKp 5.7
Bright, overheadKp 6.7

Kp now 2.0: 2.7 short of the horizon

5Montreal

On the horizonKp 4.9
Clearly visibleKp 5.9
Bright, overheadKp 6.9

Kp now 2.0: 2.9 short of the horizon

Best dark sky viewing locations

Quebec: forecast points and dark-sky places1234512
Circles: forecast points (colored by tonight's status). Squares: dark-sky places.

Mont-Mégantic National Park

151 km from Quebec City188 km from Montreal

International Dark Sky Reserve (DarkSky International)

First International Dark Sky Reserve, recognized in 2007, with the ASTROLab public observatory on the mountain.

Paved road to the park in the Eastern Townships.

Au Diable Vert

94 km from Montreal223 km from Quebec City

Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC)

Private mountain resort in the Sutton range, designated in 2018. Night access is for guests and astronomy bookings.

Road from Sutton or Mansonville; parking lot, then pedestrian site.

Aurora status by city

Quebec City

Forecast point
Low
Needs Kp 4.7 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 79% 11 PM – 1 AM EST

Kuujjuaq

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 1.7 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 100%

Chibougamau

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 3.8 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 100%

Saguenay

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 4.3 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 100%

Montreal

City forecast
Unlikely
Needs Kp 4.9 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 96%

What time to look tonight in Quebec

Best window tonight: 11 PM – 1 AM EST at Quebec City. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.

Best viewing season in Quebec

Quebec is huge, and the aurora depends on where you are. The St. Lawrence lowlands around Montreal and Quebec City have mild winter nights but frequent cloud and a lot of light, so you need a strong storm. Saguenay and the boreal forest north of it do better, and Nunavik in the far north sits under the oval.

The best nights come in the cold, clear stretches of late autumn to early spring. The darkest places are the forests and lakes north of the St. Lawrence and the mountains of the Eastern Townships.

Peak aurora months

At Kuujjuaq, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, August, September and October.

GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.

Quebec northern lights FAQ

Can you see the northern lights in Quebec?
Yes. Kuujjuaq needs Kp 1.7 and Montreal Kp 4.9; over the last three years Kp reached Kuujjuaq's threshold on about 264 dark nights a year, most often in March, August, September and October. Clouds and darkness decide the rest.
Can I see the northern lights in Quebec tonight?
Maybe, mostly on camera. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): best chance at Quebec City, low. Best window: 11 PM – 1 AM EST.
Where are the darkest skies in Quebec?
Mont-Mégantic National Park and Au Diable Vert. Mont-Mégantic National Park and Au Diable Vert hold an official dark-sky designation. Pick one with an open view to the north.
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Quebec?
From Kp 1.7 at Kuujjuaq to Kp 4.9 at Montreal. About one Kp less can show on a phone camera; about two more puts the aurora high in the sky.

Free app for iPhone and Android

Track aurora across Quebec

The forecast on this page, watching your location all night and telling you when to step outside.

BEST HOUR

The hour tonight when Kp, clouds and darkness line up for your spot.

WAKE UP

A push alert 30–90 minutes before the aurora reaches your sky, even at 2 AM.

CLEAR SKY

Where the clouds open nearby, so you know which way to drive.

Explore more

Country

Northern lights in Canada

Province

Low

Ontario

Province

Moderate

Manitoba

Province

High

Saskatchewan

Learn more about the northern lights

How to See the Northern Lights: A Beginner's Guide

Three conditions decide whether you see the northern lights: activity at your latitude, a clear sky and darkness. Here is how to check each one.

Aurora Colors and What They Mean

Green, red, blue, purple and pink aurora explained: which gas makes each color, how high it glows, and why your camera shows more than your eyes.

Northern Lights in Canada: Best Places

The best places to see the northern lights in Canada: Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Churchill, Jasper and the prairies, plus what Ontario and Quebec get.

Northern Lights in Scotland

Where to see the northern lights in Scotland: north coast, islands, Cairngorms and dark sky parks, when the sky is dark enough, and how to beat cloud.

Northern Lights in Norway

Where to see the northern lights in Norway, which months work, why the coast and inland need different plans, and what Oslo gets in a storm.

Aurora Australis Forecast Guide

How to read a forecast for the southern lights: Kp, Bz, the southern oval, darkness, moon and cloud, plus where to look in Tasmania and southern Australia.

Kp index today

Live Kp, the 3-day and 27-day forecast, and what Kp each city needs.

Geomagnetic storm today

G-scale now, the storm outlook and how far south the aurora reaches.